WSP06290

• File Number: 8277.600.10
• Description: Big Sandy River Unit - Colorado River Salinity Control Program
• State: WY
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 5/1/1986
• Title: U.S.D.A. Selected Plan - Big Sandy River
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Definite Plan Report

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Most of the irrigated soils are alluvial deposits of sandy loams
over coarse sands or gravelly sands underlain by shale at depths mostly
over 5 feet. Soils with shale at moderate depths occur in some areas.
Small areas of wind deposited sand dune soils and heavy clay soils also
occur. Also, soils shallow to shale bedrock occur in the surrounding
uplands.

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The sandy loam soils are suitable for irrigation with some
limitations. The coarse texture results in low water holding capacity
and moderately rapid to rapid permeability. This generally leads to low
irrigation efficiencies under flood irrigation systems. The topography
is nearly level to gently sloping with some microrelief. Land smoothing
and leveling of this microrelief to facilitate more even distribution of
water under border dike or contour ditch irrigation methods removes the
topsoil from high spots and adds it to low areas. This increases soil
variability as to water holding capacity and productivity.

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The low water holding capacity and moderately rapid to rapid
permeability of the soils results in much of the water from the canals,
ditches, and that applied to the field being lost through deep
percolation. This waste water is retained or held up as a perched water
table by the underlying shale. Buildup of a water table above the shale
has created wet soils conditions generally with accompanying salinity
and alkalinity. Drainage ditches have been installed to drain some
areas, but other areas would benefit if drainage were improved or deep
percolation reduced. Ditch lining and sprinkler irrigation should
reduce the extent of wet areas and lower the perched water table. This
could retard and even reduce the buildup of salinity and alkalinity.

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Water erosion on the irrigated lands is generally not a problem as
the topography is nearly level to gently sloping, except for gullies
developing from waste water runoff and from water breaking out of
ditches. Wind erosion is a problem with a loamy fine sand, loamy sand,
or fine sand surface if these soils are left unprotected during the
critical wind erosion periods.

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Fish and Wildlife Resources

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Fisheries habitat is found on streams that flow throughout the
watershed area. Principal fish species present in the lower Big Sandy
River and Little Sandy Creek consist of rainbow and brown trout, carp,
and suckers. The lower Big Sandy River extends 40 miles from the town
of Farson to the confluence with the Green River. This reach of stream
is high in nutrients. It has fair to poor resident trout habitat
throughout. Major limiting factors for salmonids are excessive summer
temperature maximums and heavy accumulation of sediments. Populations
of trout are known to exist in this reach of the Big Sandy River when
temperature levels are acceptable, especially in the 8- to 10-mile
region of cold water bank seeps below Farson. Bone Draw is a left-side
tributary that empties into the Big Sandy River approximately 5 miles
below the project area. The water sources to Bone Draw are several
small cold water saline seeps that occur in the last one-half mile of
the draw. In addition, during the irrigation season, some intermittent
tail water runoff from the project area reaches the outlet of Bone Draw.

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